Simplifying Life

ceridwen

Hi everyone

Well thanks to all for the supportive comments - I particularly liked Aril's latest quote. I always grin a little to myself when I see Aril's greeting "Hello virtual friends" - but I like it and it does feel rather apt.

Fozz

Have just read " The Story of Stuff" on the gratefulness.org website, it has really made me more determined to recycle and stop loading my life up with junk! Have added the site to my favourite to browse later.
Even yesterday I bought DH a pack of T-shirts because they were really cheap and I was just wandering around the shop with not much purpose.
I realise now that he doesn't really need them, his drawer is full of them already, and they must be cheap because other people have paid for them first ( watch "The Story of Stuff "to see what I mean!)
I've still got the receipt so they're going back today!

Rowan9

Hope this is a better day for you Ceridwen. I love this thread and am so grateful to you for starting it. It feels like 'home' to me. I came on to read it first when |i logged onto the computer because I knew it would cheer me up after bad dreams and it has. Everyone is very supportive of each other here.

Mary43 - I sometimes wonder if 'stashing' things and being unable to resist is something to do with trying to squash down a feeling about something. I know when i was first off work with stress i took out the max number of library books (20!) and know it was to try to make myself read my way out of everything hard to deal with. Ok I am down to about 16 books now . But at least it's a way to swamp myself that won't eventually add to clutter as they will all go back. I'm also taking the meditation route to try to find peace within myself instead of searching for it eslewhere. If I were you, I wouldn't be too hard on myself as you have a lot on your plate. You are making such progress towards Christmas by using your urge to buy something - all your gift sets sound lovely. Oh - and thank you for saying my home sounds calm - that has given me the urge to tidy it up and light my nice scented candle! That will make it look and feel more calming.

Good for you taking the T shirts back Fozz - it's so easy to wander round a shop and pick things up because they are cheap.

Well done Rebob for downsizing to one car - that is a definite step forward to part-time work for your OH

I have plans to make a corner of the bedroom 'my' safe place, with a chair, small table and lamp. My home is nice and safe but OH works away a lot and I want a very special corner where I can encourage feelings of peace. I'm on the look out for a second hand chair and feel that i will 'know' it when I see it. I'm going to look at the auction and also have another look at a chair I saw in an antique shop.

Ok folks - I'm off - hope you all have a lovely day - I'll be back in here later on I'm sure!
w

Ellidee

Morning all. Thank you again wmf for articulating your feelings so beautifully which, again, resonate with me. I'm loving this thread too. Take care & hugs to all that need one . X El

champys

Rebob wrote: »

I have made a start at a simpler life. I sold my car yesterday. Hubby still has one but we are trying to limit its use a bit.

We are also selling our house and downsizing when we get a buyer so hubby can get a part-time job he enjoys rather than working all hours and being too tired for family life.

Rebob - well done! We gave up the second car over 6 years ago and never really missed it. Our bicycles take up the slack and that is much better both for us and for the environment. Think what you will save on MOT, tax, insurance, repairs, petrol. I didn't even sell mine: I gave it away to a mother of 4 young children who had no car at all for her family and a husband unable to work because of depression.

Rebob

I have a bicycle but I am not very good on it and it is not safe around here as there are no cycle lanes and it is heavy traffic. I could not give the car away though as we will need the money towards the downsizing move. I am putting the money in the local credit union so I am help keep money in the local community too.

As rhonda jean said above, using less/un processed foods is muck cheaper than ready dinners. I have a giant sized stockpot that I got off freecycle. When I make a stew I fill the pot to the top, full bag of carrots, bag of parsnips, large swede....... We have a meal from it then it is portioned and some frozen and some put in the fridge. DS loves the stew but can never decide whether he wants pancakes or dumplings with it!

Last year we used freecycle and charity shops more than ever to both give and buy goods.

Today dh has taken ds to a free local event "The Mad Scientist Show and Workshop". Loads of fun for no cost....just what we wanted!

mary43

ceridwen - hope today is a better day for you (((((((((:o )))))))) you deserve it to be.

aril - thankyou for such lovely quotes.............so true and so uplifting.

rhonda jean- such good sound advice

wmf -I always put my impulsive buys (all the 'must haves but don't know why' things) down to my own insecurities being such that I feel a need to surround myself with 'stuff'..........then I'm never alone ..........if you see what I mean. But bit by bit its going and I'm actually 'wanting' to get rid of stuff..............not a feeling I can particularly remember having for a long time.

rebob - this year I've promised myself that everyone is having 'recycled' pressies for birthdays and christmas. Not only is it cheaper, its fun to shop.......already started this years........and there's not the pre-christmas panic I normally end up having. Everyones having a basket of 'goodies' -complete surprises. Me and two of my friends have been doing it for a few years now and love it so much - even had people say thats what they'd rather have. Have just finished decanting some freebie cheap bubble bath I had given me into wine bottles.........printed the labels off the internet and they look a treat they really do..............still plenty of bath stuff left so must get OH to drink more wine.....................lol

Was hoping to get some serious de-cluttering done today...........OH's boss is getting rid of a pine dresser at knock down price (whatever that is) so OH has measured doorways at home to make sure it would fit...........that was this morning and havne''t heard a word so could well mean that knock down price is still too expensive. And there was me quite looking forward to clearing out the old painted one (not a pine one, very basic and if I'm honest, I'm a bit bored with it.............lol). Having a new dresser had given me a first rate excuse to clear out but - sods law - if I start clearing the old one out I'll end up disappointed so think I'm best to leave well alone.........for now anyway.

groatie_queen

Day 4 & day 5

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I was working and then at friends, so today I've done two days' worth of letting go - into the eaves and weeded out 54 books. Some I had never read, books I thought I 'ought' to read, and of course, 'ought' never works! Books that other people thought I would enjoy, and didn't hit the spot, books that were trophies or talismans, books for self-improvement.... begs the question why I was so unhappy with being me, in days gone by. Once I left my marriage, a lot of those issues were resolved. To adapt the old saying, my then partner oftentimes wished to be reflected at twice his size, whilst habitually reflecting me at half mine!! I love me and my imperfections these days - most of the time!!

Most books are going to the charity shop, but several which are in excellent condition I'll donate to the local library.

I'm not saying I will never buy another book - I love them too much! But I do know that contentment and peace of mind, its close cousin, come from daily actions and choices, choosing just the sort of simplifying which wmf, Rosieben, Aril, Rhonda Jean, Ceridwen and all the rest of us are seeking and using as a daily practice. And whilst other people's wisdom in books etc can inform and help us, we are the agents of change, internal and external - it's our thoughts and actions which count, not the number of books we've read!

Just a quick thought - historically in the UK & Europe, the sacred and the ordinary were one and the same, and were rooted in domestic life. Then a division came about. The sacred was taken into separate buildings (churches) and kept for Sundays. The ordinary became devalued and in some eyes profane. I feel we are reclaiming the domestic realm as an expression of our values and as sacred space, a place of sanctuary and healing, where, when the inner and the outer are congruent, we can be truly at ease, peaceful, centred and contented.

Wishing us all true contentment and domestic bliss

GQ xxx

rosieben

groatie_queen wrote: »

...
Just a quick thought - historically in the UK & Europe, the sacred and the ordinary were one and the same, and were rooted in domestic life. Then a division came about. The sacred was taken into separate buildings (churches) and kept for Sundays. The ordinary became devalued and in some eyes profane. I feel we are reclaiming the domestic realm as an expression of our values and as sacred space, a place of sanctuary and healing, where, when the inner and the outer are congruent, we can be truly at ease, peaceful, centred and contented.

Wishing us all true contentment and domestic bliss

GQ xxx

Absolutely spot on, GQ :T I've copied this for future reference; and well done on your 27/9 challenge :T

moanymoany

Ceridwen, your virtual massage has done the trick - thank's so much:A

The house is getting on towards finished. It is such a strange feeling. We've lived here for 18 years, on the verge of retirement. Selling the house is difficult. One reason people don't change their lives is because it is 'the devil they know'. Who knows what may happen if we dare to make changes... It could all go horribly pear shaped. :eek:

Bye the way ... I gave away my old chest of drawers on freecycle, I had the usual people not getting back to me - but then someone answered who expected it to have gone but was contacting just in case. She is lovely, I'm so glad she has the chest. I told her I will contact her when - and if - we move as we will have some stuff to get rid of. Happy ending there.

Just the three piece suite to get rid of........:p